【学术英语】文体复习

Report

Classifying and describing things.

Report主要分为三种：

分类 Classifying

描述 Descriptive

组成 Compositional

Classifying 分类

对一个大的概念，用类似树状图的形式作细分，描述划分和每个子类。例如：

Eruptions of volcanoes may be divided into three main types: (1) the explosive type, in which rock fragments are thrown out with explosive violence; (2) the quiet type, in which hot liquid rock quietly flows on the surface; (3) the intermediate type, in which eruptions are at times violent and at other times consist of the quiet outflowing of lava.

常用词汇：

表达类别：types/kinds/classes/categories/sorts/varieties…

表达组成：consist of/comprises/can be divided into…

划分依据：according to/on the basis of/depending on

Descriptive 描述

详细介绍某个概念。例如：

Ergonomics (人体工程学) can be defined as the design of work so that the best is made of human capabilities without exceeding human limitations.

The evolution of a product or design based on ergonomics relates the product or design to the physical needs of the user. These physical needs include not only size and position but other aspects such as floor surfaces, illumination levels, hand grips, switch standards and vision.

Understanding the physical needs of the user allows the designer to cater for individual differences and to create products that cater for the needs of the majority of consumers. Ergonomics is to do with the human body as a whole but it also involves the function of parts of the body and the ease with which humans perform simple tasks.

需要描述的部分通常可以包括：

位置(position)：adjacent to/alongside/opposite/parallel to…

结构(structure)：nailed/screwed/fastened/connected…

形状(shape)：square/round/oval/irregular…width/height/diameter…

功能(function)：function/purpose/aim…

特点(properties)：light/tough/elastic/flexible/transparent…

Compositional 组成

(classification)Atoms are the units for elements. (components)The atom is basically composed of electrons, protons, and neutrons. (definition)The electrons, protons, and neutrons of one element are identical to those of any other element. There are different kinds of elements because the number and the arrangement of electrons and protons are different for each element.

(function)The electron carries a small negative charge of electricity. The proton carries a positive charge of electricity equal and opposite to the charge of the electron. Both the electron and proton have the same quantity of charge, although the mass of the proton is approximately 1,827 times that of the electron. In some atoms there exists a neutral particle called a neutron. The neutron has a mass approximately equal to that of a proton, but it has no electrical charge. According to theory, the electrons, protons, and neutrons of the atoms are thought to be arranged in a manner similar to a miniature solar system. Notice the helium atom in the figure. Two protons and two neutrons form the heavy nucleus with a positive charge around which two very light electrons revolve. The path each electron takes around the nucleus is called an orbit. The electrons are continuously being acted upon in their orbits by the force of attraction of the nucleus. To maintain an orbit around the nucleus, the electrons travel at a speed that produces a counterforce equal to the attraction force of the nucleus. The orbiting electrons do not follow random paths, instead they are confined to definite energy levels. Visualize these levels as shells with each successive shell being spaced a greater distance from the nucleus.

Sequantial 顺序型

某种现象由一系列顺序发生的事件形成。例如：

(Phenomenon)Many of the wetlands of the north have been formed by the large rivers that flow from the rugged escarpments that fringe the Top End coastline.

(Explanation)In the wet season huge volumes of water flow from the escarpments. When this water hits the flood plains it slows down and spreads out forming the wetlands. The wetlands border the sea, however a series of sand ridges stopped sea water flowing into the wetlands. This kept the wetland water fresh.

Factorial 一果多因型

某种现象(phenomenon)由多种因素(factors)共同导致，对这些原因展开描述。例如：

(Phenomenon)How can plant life grow so well in such dry, hot and infertile places? The mulga tree likes long droughts – if it is too wet mulga trees will not grow.

(Explanation)The shape of the mulga tree is the key to it surviving dry times. The branches of the mulga fan out from the bottom – like a huge half moon. The branching leaves and stem catch the rain and it trickles down to the soil. This traps more rainfall than if the tree grew straight up. The mulga catches more water than a gum tree. The water is stored in the soil to be used by the tree during the next drought. Even the mulga’s leaves help it to survive the drought. They are a silvery grey colour. The sun’s rays bounce off the leaves helping the plant to stay cool. Also the mulga tree makes its own food by dropping thousands of leaves

常用表达：

A-B因果：contributes to/due to/lead to/result in/give rise to/caused by

句子关联：therefore/consequently/As a result

Consequantial 一因多果型

某种现象(phenomenon)可能带来多方面影响(effects)，对这些影响展开描述。例如：

(Phenomenon)In southern Australia the woodlands have been cleared to plant crops like wheat and other cereals. Sheep and cattle are grazed on introduced pastures.

(Effect - tree death)When the land was first cleared small clumps of trees or single trees were left for shade. Today these trees are reaching the end of their lives and dying.

(Effect -soil erosion)The clearing of the trees has caused problems in using the land for farming. Without trees the land has been eroded by wind and rain. Today farmers are replanting the trees to try to stop this erosion.

(Effect - habitat loss)Animals like the common dunnart(一种袋鼠) rely on the fallen logs for shelter. The logs of old trees have hollows in them and the small animals of the woodlands hide in these. If these logs are cleared and removed the animals no longer have places to shelter.

Conditional 条件型

将现象(phenomenon)作为变量，展开描述引起变化的条件(condition)。

(Phenomenon)If the object is completely submerged，it displaces its own volume of fluid. The weight of displaced fluid, and therefore the upthrust, will depend on the density of the fluid.

(Condition 1) If the density of the fluid is less than the average density of the object, the weight of the displaced fluid will be less than the weight of the object and the object will sink.

(Condition 2) If, on the other hand, the density of the fluid is greater than the average density of the object, the weight of the displace fluid will therefore exceed the weight of the object. The net upward force will then cause the object to rise to the surface where it will float.